By an intoxicated fan – A S MURTY – rafimurty {a.t} gmail.com

Rafi Sahab never touched alcohol? Did he not ever take any drinks ? Unbelievable, many would say. But most know that Rafi Sahab stayed clear of any kind of alcohol.  A god-fearing person that he was, Rafi Sahab was content with his singing and loved to be back with his family after his recordings and did not give any time to partying.  His only other outings would be for live programmes around the globe and at the altar of the borders of India, giving succor the embattled and fatigued Indian soldiers who gave their all for the country’s safety.

In Hindi films, we have seen scores of heroes, character artistes, comedians, even villains getting drunk to the brim and there are hundreds of very lovely songs picturized in such an event.  Many singers have had the opportunity to playback for such songs – Mukesh, Talat Mahmood, Kishore Kumar and Rafi Sahab, to speak of the only prominent ones.  But it is to the credit of Rafi Sahab perhaps that he took the bulk of such songs for various reasons. 

Rafi Sahab was the voice of hundreds of heroes, comedians and other artistes in an era spanning well over two decades – from the late 1950s to the middle of 1970s.  But this was not the main or the sole reason for Rafi Sahab being bestowed with the maximum number of songs where the central theme is intoxication or wine.  It was the mystical and suroor-filled modulation, diction and presentation that were the hallmark of Rafi Sahab and who simply has no peers in this business.  If we say that Rafi Sahab enjoyed the unique place of being the numero uno in most genres of songs, it was purely due to his supremacy which remains unconquered till now.  It will not be out of place to state that we will never get to hear another voice which is complete in all respects.

Unfortunately for us, many of such songs where the lip-synching character has a bottle in his hand and is portraying what Rafi Sahab has already packaged into a lovely and fulsome rendition are not popular among the music lovers and many a times, most have not even heard of such songs.  In recent times when I got a whiff of some of these songs based on Nasha/Suroor, I was delighted beyond words.  This is a treasure hove of some of the fines songs by Rafi Sahab and a very particular genre which can be talked about for eternity.  Here are some songs that come off-hand and some of them include even the more famous ones.  My only request to all Rafi Bhakts is to go on adding to this list for our mutual benefit so that no one is bereft from hearing some of the gems of Hindi film music which have been so artistically crafted by Rafi Sahab.

1. KABHI NA KABHI KAHIN NA KAHIN KOI NA KOI TO AYEGA –  Sharabi
2. MUJHE DUNIYA WALON SHARABI NA SAMJHO — Leader
3. JITNI LIKHI THI MUQADDAR MEIN HUM UTNI PEE CHUKE – Nai Roshni – [audio:NaiRoshni_JitniLikhiThiMukadar.mp3]
4. YE DIL NAHI HAI KE JISKE SAHARE JEETE HAIN – Abroo
5. YE MEHFIL YE BOTAL YE RANGEEN PAANI – Issi Ka Naam Duniya Hai
6. SAQIA ITNI PILA DE KE BEHAK JAAOON MAIN – Pooja Aur Payal – [audio:PoojaAurPayal_SaqiaItniPilade.mp3]
7. HUM BEKHUDI MEIN TUMKO PUKARE CHALE GAYE – Kala Pani
8. SAQIA AISEE PILADE HUMKO DEEWANA BANADE – Mall Road – [audio:MallRoad_SaqiaAisiPilade.mp3]
9. UTTH GAYI  MEHFIL BUJH GAYI SHAMMA (MAIN SHARABI NAHI) – KHILONA (duet     with Asha Bhonsle)
10. PILA DE MAGAR SHART YE HOGI SAAQI – Sab Ka Ustad
11. KABHI KHUD PE KABHI HALAT PE RONA AAYA – Hum Dono
12. MEHFIL SE UTT JANE WALON TUM LOGON PAR KYA ILZAM – Dooj Ka Chand
13. MAINE PEE SHARAB TUMNE KYA PIYA – Naya Rasta
14. AAJI KI RAAT PEENE DE SAQI – DO CHEHRE (Male duet with Manna De)

Rafi Sahab had also the distinction of understanding the poet’s mind, the picturization of the scene and the character on whom the song was being filmed and thus could present the perfect modulation.  His diction of Urdu and Hindi would place many a men of letters to shame.

For example, take the song number three above – Jitni Likhi Thi Muqaddar Mein (Nai Roshni).  The lyricist, nay the poet, is Sahir Ludhianvi.  AB HAMARI KHUSHK ANKHON MEIN KUCH DHOONDE KOI, ASHQ INME JITNE THE HUM PEE CHUKE HUM PEE CHUKE is penned with thousands of thoughts in the poet’s mind and easily and aptly crafted with the exact modulation by Rafi Sahab, adding that much more luster to the written words.

His in-depth knowledge of music also was reason enough for Rafi Sahab to surpass the expectations of the music directors.  I know that many of Rafi Sahab’s very knowledgeable fans would write their thoughts and most with much more authority at their command than I could have done and hence I am leaving the topic wide open for you all to fill in the list of such tasteful and endearing songs of Rafi Sahab which would give the kick that many tend to get when they visit a bar. Not necessary anymore, I would say.

NA MAYKHANE MAYKASHI MUJHKO, NA HOSH-E-ASHIQUI MUJHKO
YE KIN RAAHON SE YAAR AB, LE CHALI HAI ZINDAGI MUJHO

The path is the most melodious and intoxicating Rafi-path. Experience it for untold bliss, today.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 27th, 2011 at 5:44 pm and is filed under Audio Songs, Meri Awaaz Suno. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.